Swedish Lapland is rich in natural sights and therefore the perfect destination for nature lovers. The region provides a rural romantic feeling and offers all sorts of experiences. Namely, you can watch the northern lights and the midnight sun in Lapland, depending on the time and place. Lapland is one of those places where there are a ton of cool things that will tempt you. Snowmobile Safari is very interesting and fun as also the reindeer sleigh ride.

Here is a full travel guide on the Lapland region.

1. Sami culture in Jokkmokk

Known as Lappland in Swedish, this region covers almost a quarter of the entire country. It borders both Norway and Finland, and it has an obvious relation to Finnish Lapland. The Swedish and Finnish Lapland used to form a region together, up until the Russians annexed the Finnish part.

Nowadays, the people living in Lapland are Swedes and Sami. The total population of Swedish Lapland is around 91,000, but all of historical Lapland has approximately 250,000 inhabitants. Across the borders, they share several cultural traditions, and any part of Lapland can be visited if you are into the Sami culture and/or language.

When you imagine hiking in northern Europe, you tend to imagine striking landscapes but, at least occasionally, difficult conditions. This is more or less the case in Sweden as well, and it should go without saying that if you plan a hike in this country, you will want to do so during the warmer months of the year. The depths of winter are fairly forbidding outside.

With that disclaimer out of the way, there are some truly exceptional hiking routes in this country, both on the beaches in the South (which we will get to below) and, more notably, in the more challenging wilderness inland and to the north. The Padjelanta Trail is perhaps the most quintessentially Scandinavian hike in the country.

It is roughly a 150 km trail that takes you through some of the remote northwestern lands of Sweden, through the settlements of the Sami people and alongside rocky lakeside. There is a decent probability of seeing reindeer on this trail, which adds another thrill.

The Padjelanta Trail is a UNESCO world heritage site and is one of the most famous and rewarding trails that the country has to offer. You will be treated to stunning views of gargantuan mountain ranges, lakes, and perhaps even wildlife such as reindeer.

2. See northern lights in Abisko

In the summer and late spring, you can see the midnight sun in Lapland. In the winter - when the skies are clear - you are often able to see northern lights. Both phenomena attract tourists and the northern lights are often considered the main reason to visit Lapland.

We will argue, however, that Lapland has even more to offer. First of all, it’s the perfect place to go hiking. Much of the nature in Lapland is virtually untouched and you will find hills, mountains, valleys, rivers and lakes. There’s no better place to test your guts against nature.

3. Local food in Luleå

The local food is quite special as well. Almost all the foods are locally sourced. Herring, pork, cheese and potatoes are typically used in the local cuisine. The signature dish in Swedish Lapland is Kalix Löjrom. If you go to a party or an event in the region, they will probably serve this. You can order it in some of the local restaurants as well.

Sami culture is dominating in the region, and it is quite different from the traditional Swedish culture. Due to influence from the Laestadian movement, it is also one of the more religious areas in Sweden. Getting close to these cultures is an experience you won’t find elsewhere.

4. Explore Kiruna

While Lapland is rich in nature, it is lacking in big cities. In fact, there are none: The largest town in Lapland is Kiruna with around 23,000 inhabitants in the entire municipality. For that reason, the infrastructure is still lacking compared to other Swedish regions, and it might be more difficult to find flights to Lapland.

The main airports in the region are found in Luleå and Kiruna. SAS and Norwegian have somewhat frequent connections to these cities, but most likely, you will need a layover in Stockholm, Malmö or Oslo first. During some parts of the year, you will find direct routes from London, which could serve as an alternative place to have the layover.

So it is possible to fly to Lapland, but we actually recommend another solution: Fly to Stockholm, rent a car and explore the whole northern part of the country on your own. It’s worth it - simply because of the freedom it gives. It’s a long trip, but you get to see much of Sweden’s nature, while combining it all with a few days in the capital.

5. Stay in Jukkasjärvi

Most Lapland visitors choose to stay in Kiruna or Luleå since they are some of the largest towns in the region and since it is where most people fly in and out. It’s relatively easy to find hotels in these towns as they are used to travelers. A normal hotel in either of these towns is perfect for getting near the local culture and doing the days, you can do longer trips out into nature.

It should be mentioned, though, that Lapland offers some pretty unique places to stay. Check out the Icehotel located a bit outside of Kiruna. It’s a hotel and an art exhibition at once - and it’s made out of ice and snow!

The Sápmi Nature Camp, located in Laponia which is a World Heritage Site, is another interesting place to stay. At least if you like staying in a traditional way - at this camp, you will sleep in a traditional tent.

Finally, you can also rent one of the local lodges in the region during your stay.

Summer is a special and magical time in Sweden, and it is when the people celebrate summer and the beautiful nature around them. On Midsummer (June 20 - 26), families and friends hold hands together and dance around a maypole covered in pretty flowers, celebrating the summer solstice. You’ll hear them singing and laughing.

If you go to Sweden during Midsummer holiday, you’ll enjoy dancing around the maypole with children, wearing a crown of flowers around your head, the music, delicious meals, the midnight sun, and the beautiful green nature.

Swedish Lapland is a gorgeous region and often considered one of the highlights of Sweden. But we sincerely advise visiting other parts of the country as well. If you have time enough, and you possess a driver’s license, it absolutely makes sense to do a road trip around Sweden so you can see even more of nature and experience the city culture as well.

As mentioned earlier, Stockholm is the perfect starting point. From here, it will be easy enough to reach Lapland or wherever else you want to go within Scandinavia!